Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-03-31

pioSptiltg VI tic fVSlOu III MhiSh hc |
lives. II is now contributing its full |
share in building up with marvellous rap |
idity the region have recently traversed, |
and will be Of infinitely more value to |
the South than the needless and listless
labor Of slaves in the olden times. Win |
these people by kindness and just re-
gard to their constitutional rights and |
they will vote with you and do their full |
share to make the South rich, prosperous |
and happy.
! also wish to express in the strongest |
language my admiration and respect for
the vim and energy with which the
SOUTH is GRAPHING WITH THE NEW
conditions of labor and industry by which
they are surrounded, and my confident
belief that within a single generation
your people will more than be repaid for
the value of their slaves by the results of
diversified industry and subdivision of
land. The time will come and seems now
near at hand when you and your child
| rem will rejoice, not only that the slaves
are free, but that the Union has been pre-
served and strengthened.
| And now, fellow. citizens, gladly turn
to those questions of national politics
which alike affect oil parts of our coun
try, and which alone ought to be the sub.
| jects of political discussion. What are
these? | answer taxation, currency, pub
lie credit, foreign and domestic commerce,
education, internal Improvements, topics
not sectional, but of vital importance to
all alike. Above all, the mode of nation
al taxation is most important. II is inter.
woven with and dominates all other
questions. Whichever party is in power
will find 1t necessary to secure by some
form of texation, about three hundred
millions of revenue. The Constitution
| gives to Congress on almost unlimited
power of taxation. Itmay levy imposts
or duties ON imported goods, excises or
taxation, or domestic production, or en-
ployments and also direct taxes on prop
erty. From the nature of this power it
is only limited by the public good and
general welfare. Congress has very rare
ly levied direct taxes on property, for this
is almost the sole mode of taxation for
the support of State and local govern
ments. And so with taxes on domestic
productions, with rare exceptions caused
by war or the result of war, taxes have
not been levied by Congress on any arti.
Gle of American production. At this time
the only articles made In this country sub
ject to national tax are whisky, tobacco,
and beer. They have been continued so
long only to pay expenses growing out OF
the war, such as pensions and the interest
on the public debt, because from their
very nature the tax cannot be levied by
State authority If Tennessee should tax
the production or manufacture Of whisky,
tobacco or beer 1t would only dive their
manufacture into neighboring States
, which levied no such tax. Another rea-
son why these articles are taxed by Con-
! gress Is that the tax is easily and cheaply
/ collected, and is more freely paid than
!. any other, perhaps, because the consumer
3. Is SO happy In using them that he does
, not think of the tax. In this way ovel
I | $1U0, ,UU0,000 Of national fevcnne Is raised
q But these taxes, though not felt as a seri
i Gus burden, can be dispensed with, re-
2 duced, or modified whenever 1t Is deemed
1 best.
. There still remains the dnties levied
s on imported goods, and In the mode oi
q doing this lies the
{ MAIN ISSUE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN
n aud Democratic parties. Both parties
h concedc that these taxes or duties or
@ goods imported from foreign countries
q must be, as they have been in the past
r the main source of national revenue. The
v Democratic party claim, however, tha
4 they shall be levied for revenue only while
q the Republican party claim that while
d levied for revenue, they should be so ad-
s justed as to protect, foster and encourage
IS American industry.
v The domestic production of manufac-
/. tured articles in the United States, for tn
q year 1886, is roundly estimated at So, ,5O0
Il 000, 900, of which amount about one-hal
@ OF say So, 500, 600, 900, are domestic artic
G les which compete with foreign produc
a tions. The amount of importations from
II abroad In 1886, was of the value of $685.,
q 000,0 The revenue received from tli
l. duties on these articles amounted to $1SS,
d 600, 900, making an average rate OF dut
IN of about 30 per cent. The general ide
10 of the Democratic party Is to levy thcs
le duties by such rate approaching an a,
,r volorem average rate as probably woul'
| produce the requisite revenue. The Rt
at publican idea is practically embodied !
a. the tariff laws as they now exist, and pei
r. haps the best way in which | can illus
ut trate the difference between the two pa
ID ties is by stating these rates and explain
rs ing the reasons for them.
lg OF the 825, 900, 900, of goods importe
re $211, ,000, 900, or more than one third, al
IS. now admitted duty free. The remainin
10 $4,000, 900 are subject to duties var.
I'd ing from 10 per cent TO over 100 per cen
n. 1t Is the general policy Of the law to al
of nit free of daty all articles of foreie
or production that cannot be produced
In this country, for which we have not u
lie natural soil and climate, and yet whiC
III are In common use In every family her
TO such Us tea, coffee and similar articles.
yo The second rule Is to admit FREQ of du
of oil raw articles which cannot be pr
nd duced In this country and are the nece
lal sary basis of domestic manufacturer
nv Such articles as chemicals, indigo, su
In phur, india rubber, raw silk and the III
an are admitted free Of duty. Under tn
"a provision perhaps 500 articles, describ,
ch in sixteen pages OF the document no
tn In my hand, being the annual report
an imported merchandise entered for co
cd sumption in the United States for q
ri, year 1886, are admitted free Of duty.
On the remaining articles of impol
no embracing probably moro than one tho
II. sand In number, ihe whole customs d
an ties are collected, amounting to SIS
Id, 900, 900. These are classified into: Fir
led luxurics, consisting of wines, liquors a
OF cigars, articles consumed mainly by I
YER rich, which pay duty at O rate approac
fe. ing or above 100 per cent These I
I've articles which cannot re readily smt
lid gled, can be certainly described a
ON yield large revenue. Jewelry, d
YES monds and the like are articles Of luxr
ing upon which the highest duty Is levi
cry that can be collected, but as they
iad easily concealed on the person, and the
fore, easily smugglcd, rates OF duty
len imposed upon them as high as experieI
our shows can be collected,
ON There are also classcd ns luxuric'
all large amount OF expensive dress goo
AL, | ouch aa aiike fina clofhq eating or fur